Young Farmer Scheme

The young farmer scheme provides a 25% top up on the average Basic Payment for a young farmer to support them in their first five years of farming.

Key points:

  • 25% top up of approx €64 per entitlement per year regardless of the value of entitlements held.

  • Scheme available for the first five years of set up.

  • Maximum payment on each entitlement up to 50 hectares and 5 year duration.

  • Herd number allocation is the date deemed to have commenced farming.

    • Criteria for young farmers

  • No more than 40 years during the calendar year of entry to the scheme.

  • Commenced farming since early 2010 (important to apply immediately if allocated a herd number in early 2010).

  • Agricultural educational qualifications started by 30 September 2016.

  • Additional criteria for group farming (partnership, company).

  • Applications close on the 15 May 2015. Register with www.agfood.ie or submit through an agent.

  • The Department’s National Reserve/Young Farmers Scheme section 0761 064 446.

    • National Reserve

    The Basic Payment National Reserve is for both young farmers who have commenced farming since early 2010 and new entrants to farming who have low or no entitlements. The following is some of the key criteria:

    Criteria for young farmer category

  • No more than 40 years during the calendar year of entry to scheme.

  • Commenced farming since early 2010 (important to apply immediately if granted herd number in early 2010).

  • Agricultural educational qualifications started by 30 September 2016.

  • Off farm income limit of €40,000.

  • Additional criteria for group farming (partnership, company).

    • Criteria for new entrant category

  • Same criteria as young farmers without the age restriction and must have commenced in 2013 or later.

    • Key points

  • Eligible to apply on hectares farmed in 2015 with or without entitlements below the national average Basic payment of €170 (€254 incl. Greening).

  • Maximum area to apply for entitlements is 90 hectares.

  • Entitlement per hectare from National Reserve is €170 (plus greening equals €254).

  • National Reserve covers the timeframe 2015-2019.

  • Young Farmers who applied to the previous national reserve and who meet the criteria for the 2015 national reserve are eligible to apply.

  • Other categories may be included in the Basic Payment National Reserve for 2015 in April.

    • Online applications open for National Reserve and Young Farmer scheme